Tim McNulty
LIVERPOOL players have branded Spanish side Sevilla ‘a disgrace’ after a combative pre-season game left one player needing crutches.
The ‘friendly’ had seen the Andalucian side beat the Champions League holders 2 -1 at Fenway Park in Boston, the home of Liverpool’s US owners.
A shocking challenge from Sevilla’s Joris Gnagnon on Liverpool’s promising talent Yasser Larouci left the teenager with what looked like a serious injury.
“There were some disgraceful tackles, we know it was a friendly but you don’t see many red cards in a friendly.
“If you want to foul, pull a shirt. Don’t take a young lad by the knee. Seeing it again it is a disgrace,” said Liverpool’s James Milner after the game.
Gnagnon has been forced to apologies for the challenge which he acknowledged as an ‘odious act.’
Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp said Larouci was ‘lucky’ as the initial diagnosis was not serious.
The German remained diplomatic at the post match press conference, explaining that he ‘would still like to able to go to Spain on holiday’ in the future.
